General Mills Issues Salmonella Flour Recall

PROVIDENCE, RI — General Mills has recalled 2, 5 and 10 pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour with late March 2024 “best-by” dates for possible Salmonella contamination.

The Rhode Island Department of Health announced the recall this morning. The RIDOH alert about the recall said it was initiated after Salmonella Infantis was discovered during sampling of the five-pound bag product.

The health department advised people to check their pantries and dispose of the products affected by this recall. Consumers who have had to discard products covered by the recall can contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103.

According to the FDA, the recall affects two date codes of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour in the five- and ten pound bags and two date codes of Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose Flour in the two- and five-pound bags. All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.

The Food and Drug Administration(FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control(CDC) warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour. Salmonella Infantisis killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour. All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella Infantis, a bacteria, often experience nausea, diarrhea, fever and abdominal pains. The CDC estimates there are 1.2 million cases annually in the U.S. Typically, symptoms start within six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

The voluntary salmonella flour recall includes the following code dates currently in stores or consumers’ pantries:

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 5LB Flour

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 10LB Flour

Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 2LB Flour

Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 5LB Flour